Township of Lake of Bays prepares to implement ‘Strong Mayor Powers’ legislation

Lake of Bays Mayor Terry Glove described Ontario’s expansion of the ‘Strong Mayor Powers’ legislation, which significantly expands the power and duties of the head of council, as stressful.

“This new legislation puts a phenomenal amount of stress on whoever the mayor is because you can expect that with the complications of how it works… people will just come forward and say ‘hey, you’re the mayor. You can veto things, you can put things, you can do things,” said Glover. “The way things worked prior to this were fine, and the democratic process that makes this machine go, I think, is extremely important, and by side-stepping it here or there, I’m not certain it’ll achieve its target…

“Let’s see where it goes and carry on as we have in the past with the relationship we have,” Glover told his fellow councillors at the May 13 council meeting.

Councillor Rick Brooks referred to the legislation as “scary as heck.” He said the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA), the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), and other municipal organizations have expressed concern. “Everybody is basically saying ‘we don’t need this. We didn’t really want this.’ This was something that was created by the current government, and unfortunately, as you say, it’s legislated…”

Councillor Nancy Tapley questioned whether the additional powers enable the mayor to circumvent environmental protections to allow construction in environmentally sensitive areas.

Township Director of Corporate Services/Clerk Carrie Sykes said, “The way the Act is written, if the mayor is in the opinion that it enhances or advances the provincial priorities, they have that ability, but council has been provided the power to veto the mayor.”

Township CAO Geoff Carleton also noted that while the mayor would have the ability to put forward a bylaw for a change in, say, zoning, the regulations do not allow the new powers to supersede environmental controls and regulations. Sykes also noted that when exercising their new powers, the Act does state that all legal requirements, including rules surrounding consultation, have to be followed. Sykes also told councillors that a registry would be included on the Township website when such powers are invoked.

On May 1, the province expanded the ‘Strong Mayor Powers’ to an additional 169 municipalities, including the Township of Lake of Bays.

The new powers expand the authority of heads of council to facilitate provincial priorities, particularly around housing, transit, and infrastructure. These powers allow mayors to propose budgets, hire and dismiss certain staff (including division heads), and bring forward matters for council consideration related to provincial priorities. The province can define or update these priorities. The new powers are tied to achieving provincial goals, particularly increasing housing supply by:

• Building 1.5 million new residential units by December 31, 2031
• Constructing and maintaining infrastructure to support housing, including transit, roads,
  utilities and servicing.

The legislative changes include giving the mayor the following powers:

1. Control Over Municipal Administration

• Mayors can hire and fire the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).
• Can appoint or dismiss department heads (with some limitations).

2. Budgetary Authority

• The mayor can propose the municipal budget directly, which council can amend with a two-thirds vote.
• Can veto council amendments to the budget (again, override requires two-thirds vote).

3. Initiating and Vetoing Bylaws

• Mayors can direct staff to prepare bylaws that align with provincial priorities (e.g., housing).
• Can veto bylaws passed by council that conflict with provincial priorities.
• Council can override a mayor’s veto with a two-thirds majority.

You can find the staff report with more information by clicking HERE (pdf).

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